Romance / SGA / Rodney McKay/Teyla Emmagan

Title: Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained
Author: ladyjax
Theme: Romance
Rating: G
Paring: Rodney McKay/ Teyla Emmagan
Summary: A meditation on romance and Rodney McKay. Tea is involved.



Romance is not something that Rodney McKay does well. He knows the motions, knows what most women-Earth women at least - expect: flowers, kind words, perhaps even a bit of poetry recited beneath a full moon.

Given that most of the women he's come into contact with in the last few years have been scientists, he throws in the possibility of differential equations discussed by the light of an LCD screen.

Rodney is not at a complete loss when it comes to women but he lacks Sheppard's easy charm or Ronon's gruff appeal. He's not exactly sure what he has to offer someone like Teyla Emmagan. She's a leader, his teammate and a skilled warrior. She’s out of his league.

What Rodney does have is this: a memory of warm cinnamon skin beneath his fingers. The light press of her body against his own as they danced in the Suvassan Great Hall. Teyla’s stunned surprise when he told her she was beautiful. The blossoming of something terrifyingly wanton in his own heart.

And since this is Atlantis, where anything can happen, morning finds Rodney sitting next to Teyla on the balcony outside his room as the sun rises. A small round bodied porcelain tea pot sits next to a personal coffee press on a low table between them. Teyla is leaning back against her chair, eyes closed, her hands curved around the white tea cup that holds a generous serving of Gunpowder Green. She looks peaceful and it occurs to him that he’s never actually seen her really relax. A secret part of him hopes that he had a part in helping her do so.

**

Impulse made him ask Cadman, of all people, to bring the tea ware back from Earth. All that was left was his bumbling invitation to Teyla to share a morning pot of tea. With him. He’s so sure that she’ll say no with her enigmatic smile firmly in place that he almost doesn’t hear her response.

“I would be honored to share the morning time with you, Rodney.”

He looks down at the brown fingers that rest lightly on his arm and then he looks at her face. She’s not laughing but she is smiling and he figures he’s done something right.

**

Rodney wants to ask her but he doesn’t want to be crass and he’s sure Teyla can hear his thoughts churning. Having tea together doesn’t necessarily mean that she wants anything more or even wants him. But for once, he wants to be the guy who asks, who takes a chance with the one person who may actually get him – or at least pretends to.

He’s screwing up his courage and he’s turning toward her, the words forming on his lips when her eyes open and she turns to look him. Her cup is on the table, she’s taking his hand and she’s saying the words; she’s asking. Rodney says the only thing that comes to mind.

“Yes.”